It refers to Allahabad High Court taking sue-motto cognizance of hoardings of rioters against whom cost is imposed for recovering cost of damages by UP government at important road-crossings of state-capital Lucknow under policy of name-and-shame in a bid to prevent such riots. It is significant that the court held special sitting on Sunday to take up the matter, ultimately ordering immediate removal of such hoardings in name of right to privacy. But such hoardings for defaulters of property-tax in Delhi are often put by civic authorities.
Since steps taken by state-government to recover cost of damage from rioters provided positive results when there are reports that initially booked rioters gave details of their associates in rioting to get cost distributed, UP government should challenge order of Allahabad High Court at Supreme Court seeking stay on order of High Court. Right to privacy has also its reservations if it hurts public-interest at large.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL